Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 534: Chapter 289: Xia Qingying: Fellow Daoist, Please Wait...

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

The auras of the Cultivators from the Da Xia Divine Dynasty and the Li Huo Divine Palace slowly intensified. They stealthily put some distance between each other, looking as if they would erupt into a battle to determine a victor at the slightest disagreement.

Seeing this, the Cultivators from the other surrounding factions quickly retreated to avoid being caught in the crossfire. If the Cultivators from these two powers were to clash, a great deal of blood would surely be spilled.

The Da Xia Divine Dynasty had slightly more Cultivators, but the advantage was limited. It was unlikely either side could achieve a decisive victory anytime soon.

Ling Changqing paid them no mind. He quietly made his way to the base of the Purple Jade Arch Bridge, preparing to cross it alone.

Fragments of clothing and Magical Artifacts were scattered across the ground. Evidently, other Cultivators had attempted the crossing before but had all failed, their bodies disintegrated without a trace.

Ling Changqing steadied his Mind. A detailed map of a safe route had already manifested in his sea of consciousness, and with Gong Ling’s patient guidance, he was certain he could evade the various vicious Restriction Traps along the path.

Up close, the black and white spatial squares on the bridge’s surface appeared chaotic and disordered, constantly shifting and exuding a heart-stopping, destructive aura.

Ling Changqing was certain that without any preparation, even a Body Cultivator at the Void Refining Realm, protected by a top-tier Spiritual Treasure, wouldn’t last long against the shearing and grinding forces of such a High Grade spatial Restriction.

Thus, unless one had the correct path, it was impossible to cross safely.

Although Meng Feiyu was the reincarnation of the Hongmeng Divine Hall’s founding ancestor, her Cultivation had not yet recovered. It would still be difficult for her to deduce the changing patterns of the spatial Restriction in time to guide Ling Changqing across safely.

That was why Ling Changqing had decided to do it himself. The price of one hundred years of Lifespan was steep, but he couldn’t worry about that now. Besides, he could recover it in the future.

"...Counting from the left, the twelfth spatial square. It will be stable for fifteen breaths. You can cross!"

Gong Ling’s sweet, gentle voice resounded in his sea of consciousness.

"Understood."

Ling Changqing did as she said, lifting his foot and stepping into the spatial square.

In an instant, his deep purple, ornate robe shimmered with a spiritual glow as his Defense reached its Peak. The fluctuations of the spatial turbulence, so close at hand, made Ling Changqing’s scalp tingle with fear.

"...After nine breaths, take seven steps to the left, then three steps forward. Wait for twenty breaths, then take one step back..."

A hint of gravity entered Gong Ling’s voice.

Ling Changqing took a deep breath and, following Gong Ling’s instructions, made his way step by step toward the other side of the Purple Jade Arch Bridge.

...

Back at the standoff, just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, a large group of Cultivators with powerful auras surged over from the distance like a tide.

They were all dressed in identical Jade colored Magical Robes. Men and women, young and old, were among them, all clearly from the same faction.

"Hm? Are those people from the Yu Family of Qingming Continent?"

Xia Qingying looked slightly taken aback and turned her head to look.

The one leading the new arrivals was a young child who looked no older than seven or eight. However, his eyes held a sense of ancient wisdom that belied his apparent age. He carried a Lotus Feather Duster, and his Cultivation was, astoundingly, at the Late Stage of Void Refining Realm.

The Cultivators behind him ranged in strength from the Nascent Soul to the Divinity Transformation Realm, with some even at the Void Refining Realm. It was indeed an exceptionally powerful group.

"So, it is Patriarch Yu Zhonglin in person. It’s been a long time. Is your Old Ancestor still in good health?"

Xia Qingying’s expression softened as she greeted him warmly.

The Yu Family of Qingming Continent also controlled a vast region of land, their power slightly greater than that of the Da Xia Divine Dynasty. The two factions had maintained a decent relationship in the past.

Upon seeing who it was, Patriarch Yu Zhonglin straightened his expression, nodded slightly, and said:

"Our Old Ancestor entered seclusion a century ago and has not seen any outsiders for a long time. Is Her Majesty the Empress... also here in the Ancient Divine Land to seek a fortuitous encounter?"

"I had nothing better to do, so I decided to take a stroll."

Xia Qingying smiled, her beautiful eyes glancing toward the old ancestor from the Li Huo Divine Palace.

But before the old man could speak, another large group of Cultivators came swarming over. Their numbers were even greater than the Yu Family’s contingent.

The one leading this group was a young Cultivator dressed in snow-white robes. He was devastatingly handsome, the very image of a dashing and romantic young nobleman. The aura he exuded was surprisingly no weaker than Yu Zhonglin’s.

A stir went through the spectating Cultivators. The new arrivals were the contingent from the Chiying Demon Sect, also from Qingming Continent.

The Chiying Demon Sect had a fearsome reputation on the continent. It had stood for ten thousand years, its influence constantly expanding, leaving many Xuanmen Orthodox Sects resentful but too afraid to speak out.

"Junior Brother Yin, it’s good to see you’re well!"

A hint of a smile touched the eyes of the Li Huo Divine Palace’s old ancestor as he greeted him warmly.

This white-robed young man was none other than the second-in-command of the Chiying Demon Sect: the Heart-devouring Demon Monarch, Yin Xuechen, an infamous powerhouse of the Demon Path.

Yin Xuechen gently closed his Ink Jade Folding Fan and said with a smile:

"So it’s Senior Brother Qin. What a fateful coincidence to meet you here. Why don’t we go for a few drinks later?"

This old Sect Leader of the Li Huo Divine Palace was named Qin Tiangen. He was not only acquainted with Yin Xuechen but also on rather good terms with him, which was why they addressed each other as senior and junior brother.

Xia Qingying frowned. The situation was growing more and more complex. Acting rashly now would be unwise.

’However, these Cultivators from Mingzun Mountain are quite knowledgeable in the ways of Ancient Array Restrictions,’ she thought. ’If they were to accompany us, the safety of our group would increase significantly.’

Qin Tiangen chuckled meaningfully. "Since Her Majesty finds this so troublesome, how about... we each take a few?"